Leslie Larson is our much revered Director of Wellness and Lifestyles here at Verandah. Her smile, positive attitude, cheery demeanor lights up the fitness center day after day.
Since joining Verandah in 2021, Leslie oversees a broad range of services including the fitness center, personal training, group fitness, spa and wellness services, physical therapy services, the pool, and our court sports programs, including tennis, pickleball and bocce. She is also involved with lifestyle programming and events, facility improvements, equipment purchases, budgeting, staffing and many of the behind-the-scenes operational pieces that keep everything running.
I sat down with Leslie to learn more about her work and life. Following is my interview.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO THE FITNESS WORLD?
My interest in health and medicine started young. I was in the Medical Academy in high school and even interned my senior year. I was convinced I would pursue nursing, which is the direction I initially took in college. I was also always involved in sports, so staying active came naturally. Once high school sports ended, I quickly realized I was actually going to have to work out on purpose if I wanted to avoid that infamous “Freshman 15!” That led me to local gyms, where I quickly fell in love with fitness, exercise science and nutrition.
I attended Edison State College, now Florida SouthWestern State College, where I earned my degree in Exercise Science. Over the years, I’ve probably collected more certifications than I can count! I’m an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Specialist and Group Fitness Instructor, a Corrective Exercise Specialist, and TPI Level 1 & 2 certified through the Titleist Performance Institute. I’ve also earned certifications in Mat Pilates, Spinning and other areas of fitness. My background is a little unique because it goes beyond fitness too. I’m a Certified Phlebotomy Technician and a licensed esthetician.
My career eventually brought me into the country club world as the Fitness Director at Bonita National. Between director positions, I briefly sold commercial fitness equipment. Sales definitely wasn’t for me, but I’m so glad I did it because I gained a great deal of knowledge about equipment, facility layouts and outfitting fitness centers that I still use today.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE?
I’m a true Florida native and “Bonitian,” born and raised in Bonita Springs. I’m married to my husband Matthew and we have two sassy, fun and beautiful daughters, Luna Jean and Lily James. Many of our longtime Verandah members have watched me through both pregnancies and have really watched our family grow, which makes this community especially meaningful to me.
WHAT ARE YOUR SHORT AND LONG TERM GOALS FOR IMPROVING THE FITNESS CENTER AND SERVICES?
I’m excited about the future expansion of our physical space and services. I want to create more of a complete wellness experience. We will also incorporate Pilates reformers, additional spa and treatment services, new recovery equipment and recovery-focused options for our members.
I’m constantly looking at our existing programming and listening to what our members want. Long term, I would love for our wellness offerings to truly address all aspects of healthy aging and longevity. It’s not just about working out anymore. It’s strength, mobility, recovery, nutrition, stress management, social connection and maintaining independence. My goal is to continue building an environment where members have access to services that help them stay active, healthy and able to enjoy everything they love doing for as long as possible.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CHALLENGES?
I’m proud of the variety of services we’re able to offer our members and that we continue to look for new opportunities rather than simply doing things the way they’ve always been done.
I’m also very proud of the relationships I’ve built with our members and my team. To me, success isn’t just measured by participation numbers. It’s when someone who was intimidated by the gym becomes a regular, when a member finds a class they love, or when one of my personal training clients becomes stronger and is able to continue doing the things that are important to them.
My biggest challenge is probably also one of the things I love about my job, that there are a million moving pieces! Balancing the day-to-day needs while still finding time to think ahead and continue improving our amenities can definitely be challenging.
At the same time, I think that variety is what keeps me excited about my position. I’m always learning something new, solving a different problem or thinking about what we can do next.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HESITANT ABOUT WORKING OUT?
I always say, “motion is lotion!” The more we keep our bodies moving, the better they tend to feel and function. Exercise doesn’t have to mean spending hours in the gym or doing some crazy workout. Sometimes it’s simply about moving your body, staying strong and continuing to do the things you love.
Your goal doesn’t have to be losing weight or lifting the heaviest weights. It might be having the strength and mobility to play 18 holes, keeping up on the pickleball or tennis court, traveling without limitations, playing with your grandchildren or simply continuing to live independently and do the things you love.
Our bodies are meant to move, and the longer we can maintain our strength, mobility and independence, the longer we can continue enjoying life on our own terms. Find something you enjoy, start where you are, and just keep moving.
ANY LAST THOUGHTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
Verandah has also truly become my second family. From our members to our employees, I’ve built so many relationships here that mean much more to me than just my job. I feel incredibly blessed to be a part of such a wonderful community and family, and I think that’s a huge part of why I care so much about what I do here.
